Would a GP prescribe vouchers for meal replacement diet?

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

In a nutshell I have an enormous amount of weight to lose. About 7 stone ideally. I’m very short and am morbidly obese. The weight is making me extremely depressed and I have zero energy (baby doesn’t sleep for more than an hour at a time). I have no head space for meal planning at the moment with two children and zero help (OH always at work, no other help available). I feel desperate. Would a GP prescribe vouchers for a meal replacement plan such as the Cambridge diet? Does anyone know how this would work? Thankyou x

In my local area you can self refer for 12 weeks paid of slimming world, and potentially another 12 weeks if you meet the criteria. It’s worth either searching on google to find out what the NHS weight loss resources are in your area, or just book in with your GP to discuss it.

If you can afford food, you can afford meal replacements

It's already been explained that being put on a meal replacement programme isn't about being given free milkshakes. It's a package of support and advice, assistance in addressing the underlying issues with food and help with reintroducing food into a healthy diet in a controlled way.

I feel bad for the unnecessary responses you’ve had OP

You’ve bravely taken the first step and asked advice. Ignore any horrible comments

I hope you can find something that will work for you and good luck x

I had no idea you could buy own brand products in supermarkets so easily; I naively thought for meal replacement products you had to sign up to Cambridge weight plan/Herbalife or whatever the brands are called, which I couldn’t afford (roughly £50 a week for 21x shakes/3x shakes a day) hence why I queried whether anyone was aware of the criteria for being prescribed vouchers for them (as I had heard of meal replacement plans being available for people who are seriously overweight).
Now I’ve discovered this and how affordable they are (Thankyou to the poster who advised me of the Tesco ones!) I will definitely be pursuing this.
Thankyou again to everyone who has replied with suggestions re more affordable products and for being understanding and non judgemental x

Slim and save on Amazon also good .. but still prefer Superdrug !

People need to eat anyway. The money you save on food would pay for the meal replacements and if it is diet food / less quantity than what you eat it is cheaper surely.

Almased is meant to be really good. However I managed a day on it. Made me feel ill.

Meal replacement shakes just aren't sustainable. Eating less food but real food is what worked for me.

I have a feeling you can get vouchers towards slimming world fees.

I've done slimming world twice (both times after pregnancy) and it's amazing. With meal replacements, as soon as you start eating normally again, the weight comes back on.

With things like slimming world you change your knowledge and attitude to food. I only put the weight back on because I got pregnant again.

It's easy for the whole family to do as well and can feed everyone from it.

@Toomuchtooyoung01

I had no idea you could buy own brand products in supermarkets so easily; I naively thought for meal replacement products you had to sign up to Cambridge weight plan/Herbalife or whatever the brands are called, which I couldn’t afford (roughly £50 a week for 21x shakes/3x shakes a day) hence why I queried whether anyone was aware of the criteria for being prescribed vouchers for them (as I had heard of meal replacement plans being available for people who are seriously overweight). Now I’ve discovered this and how affordable they are (Thankyou to the poster who advised me of the Tesco ones!) I will definitely be pursuing this. Thankyou again to everyone who has replied with suggestions re more affordable products and for being understanding and non judgemental x

I've used Exante in the past. They always have offers on £100 for 100 shakes.

Cambridge and Herbalife are basically pyramid schemes and you pay £££ extra in commission.

Almased

I never recommend diets but I would seriously suggest that you consider the Fast 800 I think its called, or join one of the Mumsnet low carbing threads. That's because it tends to really improve energy and reduce hunger while losing weight. My dm benefits from it.

Steer well clear of Herbalife
MLM pyramid type thing and ridiculously ££

I would also recommend trying a low carb approach if you have not done so before.
The low carb bootcamp on here is a great way to start, very supportive and free. Worth a try!
I still struggle but have found that the best approach as it sets me free from cravings and hunger and it easy to follow when cooking for a family or eating out too

In some places yes, they do offer the Cambridge in conjunction with a dietician. Best speak to your GP as it is area specific

Cambridge diet is £50 roughly, per week. If you also have to feed other family members, not many people have that much sitting around 'spare' every week, so it's not as simple, and never is, as just decrease the food spend to cover it. Surely asking for help, from medical professionals, to try and do something positive, shouldn't be seen as a negative?

@SD1978

Cambridge diet is £50 roughly, per week. If you also have to feed other family members, not many people have that much sitting around 'spare' every week, so it's not as simple, and never is, as just decrease the food spend to cover it. Surely asking for help, from medical professionals, to try and do something positive, shouldn't be seen as a negative?

I agree. How is a morbidly obese person asking for NHS support being frowned upon?

You could say a smoker shouldn't access support or nicotine replacement aids on the NHS because they could just "use the money they spend on fags" to cure themselves.

If only obesity could be cured by telling people to not spend the money on the food that's making them fat!

Thankfully the NHS doesn't judge who is worthy of treatment, nor is it means tested. That would be completely unethical.
In fact the NHS should be throwing a fuck ton of money at treating the obesity crisis. The fall out from obesity is costing the NHS more than any other disease.

I think you've had some good advice Op. I would urge you to seek any support, advice or treatment you can via your gp. It will very difficult to change (not impossible!) with will power alone. Take any support you can.

Come over to the Low Carb Bootcamp, mini 6 week one has started today and it's amazing!! I'll see if I can post a link! I lost over 2 stone and never felt hungry or deprived. Honestly the shakes are so bad and you will gain back what you lose as soon as you start eating again

Summer Low Carb mini-Bootcamp - week 1 http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/lowcarbb_bootcamp/4312291-Summer-Low-Carb-mini-Bootcamp-week-1

In my experience there is very little on offer to support weight loss other than surgery. Which you could be a good candidate for.

It's remarkable as it's well proven for obese people diets don't work but it's how it seems to be.

Hey! I'm on week 5 of Slim and Save. It costs me £128 a month and that's all my food. They also have live chat support available all the time.
I've lost a stone, and have loads more to lose....but I'm feeling positive about a diet working for the first time in my life. I would highly recommend doing something like this rather than grabbing random shakes at the supermarket etc. Buying a months worth of food and knowing that's to last you, stops and binging on the yummy things. (Slim and Save bars are delicious). Happy to answer any questions you might have, but I've only just started my loss, so not an expert